Ronald Lee Moser, 42, of Battle Creek, Michigan appeared in federal court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children.

Moser said he took pornographic images of a 12-year-old boy at his Battle Creek home on June 5, the same day he was arrested by federal Homeland Security agents.

His cell phone contained 40 images of boys in various stages of undress and in bondage.

Moser told U.S. Magistrate Hugh Brenneman Jr. that former WCSG radio host John Balyo also took images of the 12-year-old boy handcuffed and tied to a bed at a motel in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Moser said he's known the boy for about five years and they attended sporting events together. Moser said the boy agreed to the photos after viewing images of other boys in similar poses.

"I just asked him if he would,'' Moser said. "I told him I was going to put them on the Internet.''

When Brenneman asked Moser if showing the 12-year-old boy pornographic images of other boys gave the victim a level of comfort, he responded: "Yes, I guess.''

Moser was vague about the website where he posted the pictures, saying "I downloaded them to a picture site.''

Brenneman pressed Moser about the website. "So if I wanted to buy real estate or a mountain landscape, I could find it on this site?'' the magistrate asked.

"It's something stupid I've done and I'm sorry for it,'' said Moser.

Federal investigators say Moser had an online user name of JAYBOY33 and posted a message that read: "Looking for people in or around Michigan that r in to kids.'' His online profile contained several albums; titles include "sweet body,'' "sexy boys,'' "very cute boy'' and "sweet young,'' federal court records show.

Homeland Security agents launched its investigation after finding the downloaded images on line back in May. Following Moser's arrest in June, investigators discovered cell phone images of a pubescent boy lying face down on a bed with his hands and feet bound and his buttocks exposed.

Moser admitted to bringing a single article of clothing for the boy to wear in the photographs.

After viewing images taken June 5, Brenneman said: "The court finds there is no doubt those three images constitute pornography.''

Moser admitted to having "somewhere around five'' images of child pornography on his cellphone, a point challenged by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tessa K. Hessmiller.

"I have 41 images of this victim on his phone as well as another victim, so to say there were five images is not correct,'' Hessmiller told the court.

"It sounds like there could be 35 other pictures out there that constitute child pornography,'' Brenneman responded.

Moser conceded his phone contained about 40 images in total, although only a handful were cited in the criminal indictment.

Possession of child pornography involving a pubescent minor is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Had the images shown a prepubescent boy, Moser would have faced up to 20 years in prison.

Sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a child is punishable by a minimum term of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years.

Although Moser could face a maximum term of 40 years, sentencing guidelines will not likely recommend he spend four decades behind bars, Brenneman noted.

Moser will be sentenced Nov. 14 by U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell.

Balyo, 34, pleaded guilty in July to the same charges: sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.

Balyo said he and Moser sexually abused the boy and took nine photos during an April 19 encounter, then paid the boy.